Apple gives the MacBook Air M1 "Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports", and its tech specs list support for "One external display". So a hub for this Air needs one video output, not two: each pick's listing title names 4K HDMI. For a laptop that drives two screens, our dual-monitor hub guide covers the hubs that can. What separates these three is the rest: pass-through charging, how many connections each packs in, Ethernet and data speed. If you're weighing hubs in general rather than for the Air in particular, our best USB-C hubs guide sorts them by how many ports you'll actually fill.
Top picks
1. Anker USB C Hub (7-in-1) with 4K HDMI - Best Overall
SPP Score: 8.9 / 10 - 7-in-1 connectivity. Our all-round pick.
Capability 8.5/10 - Versatility 9.4/10 - Build 8.9/10 - Value 8.9/10 - Fit 8.9/10
Fit for this guide: On an M1 Air's two Thunderbolt ports, this 7-in-1 adds 4K HDMI and six more connections on one, leaving the other for charging.
Every pick here is scored out of 10: four marks rate the product and are the same in every guide, and the fifth rates its fit for this guide - how we test and score.
This Anker's listing title gives it 7-in-1 connections and 4K HDMI for the Air's one external display, from one of the Air's two Thunderbolt ports.
Pros
- ✓ 4K HDMI output for connecting an external monitor
- ✓ Seven connections in one plug
Cons
- ✗ Its listing title names no Ethernet port, where the other two hubs' titles do, so a wired desk wants one of those
- ✗ The title doesn't list the port mix, so check it has the sockets you need
- ✗ Its listing title names no charging port, so check the listing if you want to charge the Air through the hub
Who it's for: Anyone who wants a 4K screen and more connections from one of the Air's ports.
Who it's not for: Anyone who wants Ethernet or charging through the hub, which the UGREEN's title names.
2. UGREEN Revodok 7-in-1 USB C Hub with Gigabit Ethernet - Best Budget
SPP Score: 9.0 / 10 - 7-in-1 connectivity, wired Ethernet. Our value pick.
Capability 8.5/10 - Versatility 9.4/10 - Build 8.5/10 - Value 8.9/10 - Fit 9.4/10
Fit for this guide: For a two-port Air, it adds PD 100W charging, an SD card reader, Gigabit Ethernet and 4K HDMI from one port.
The UGREEN Revodok is the one to pick if your Air works within a cable's reach of the router. If you offload camera cards every day, our USB-C SD card reader guide compares dedicated readers.
Pros
- ✓ Gigabit Ethernet built in for wired networking on the M1 Air
- ✓ 100W pass-through Power Delivery to keep the laptop topped up
Cons
- ✗ Gigabit is its Ethernet ceiling, so a faster line needs a 2.5G adapter to use all of it
Who it's for: Desk users who want Ethernet and an SD reader on one hub.
Who it's not for: Anyone who copies large files to an external SSD: the UGREEN's title gives no data speed, the 8-in-1's gives 10Gbps.
3. Anker USB C Hub 8-in-1 with Ethernet and 10Gbps - Best Premium
SPP Score: 8.7 / 10 - 8-in-1 connectivity, wired Ethernet, high-speed data. Our pick for maximum capability.
Capability 9.4/10 - Versatility 9.4/10 - Build 8.9/10 - Value 8.9/10 - Fit 7.6/10
Fit for this guide: 10Gbps data and Ethernet are more than an M1 Air needs for a screen and one USB-A device.
This Anker's listing title gives it 10Gbps data. That counts when you copy large files to an external SSD. It adds Ethernet and an HDMI port its listing title gives as "4K@60Hz". The other two titles say 4K without a refresh rate, so check theirs if a 4K screen at 60Hz matters to you.
Pros
- ✓ 10Gbps data, per its listing title, for large file copies
- ✓ Wired Ethernet plus a 4K@60Hz HDMI port in one unit
- ✓ An 8-in-1, one more connection than either 7-in-1 here
Cons
- ✗ Its 10Gbps pays off only with a fast drive; a keyboard or mouse won't use it
Who it's for: Anyone moving large files to an external SSD who also wants Ethernet.
Who it's not for: A desk that needs only a screen and a keyboard, which the 7-in-1 covers.
Quick verdict
Most M1 Air owners: the Anker USB C Hub (7-in-1) with 4K HDMI, for 4K HDMI and seven connections from one port. A desk near the router, or charging through the hub: the UGREEN Revodok 7-in-1 USB C Hub with Gigabit Ethernet, for Gigabit Ethernet and PD 100W. Big files to an external SSD: the Anker USB C Hub 8-in-1 with Ethernet and 10Gbps.
Using these hubs with an iPad Pro
Apple lists "Hubs and docks" and "USB to Ethernet adapters" among the accessories an iPad's USB-C port works with, and its iPad Pro specs list "Native DisplayPort output over USB-C". Of the three hubs here, the UGREEN is the one whose listing title names the iPad among the devices it suits, with Gigabit Ethernet on board. Our can an iPad use an external monitor explainer covers whether yours mirrors the screen or extends it, and our iPad charger guide picks the wall chargers for charging the iPad itself.
How we chose
We read each hub's listing title against what an M1 Air can use: HDMI for its external display, pass-through charging, Ethernet and data speed. Where a title doesn't break down the USB ports or card slots, we say so rather than guess.
FAQ
Q: Will these hubs work with the MacBook Air M1? A: Yes. Its Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports take USB-C hubs, so any of the three plugs into either port.
Q: Can a USB-C hub charge my MacBook Air while it's plugged in? A: Yes, if the hub has a USB-C PD port for your charger: the UGREEN's listing title rates its PD at 100W. Check the two Ankers' listings for theirs before you rely on them.
Q: Do I need one with Ethernet? A: Only if Wi-Fi isn't enough where you work. If Ethernet is all you're missing and you already have a hub, a standalone USB-C Ethernet adapter adds the port on its own.
More questions, answered in full
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